Multi flange design for marine industry

Abstract

A watercraft with improved safety and stability is provided. The watercraft includes a shell defining a plurality of raceways for receiving water during certain maneuvers of the watercraft, thereby excerpting force upon the watercraft in a first direction. The shell is configured so as to prevent or otherwise inhibit the water from excerpting an opposed second force upon the watercraft. An intermediate panel of the shell provides increased flexibility, thereby serving as a shock absorber for the watercraft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A watercraft comprising:
 a hull forming a bottom portion of a shell of the watercraft; 
 a deck forming a top portion of said shell; 
 a first flange extending along a first portion of a first side of said shell; and 
 a second flange extending along at least one of said first portion and a second portion of said first side of said shell, 
 wherein at least a first segment of said first flange is vertically displaced from at least a first segment of said second flange, and 
 wherein said first and second flanges define respective first and second raceways, each raceway having an open bottom for receiving water during a first maneuver, wherein said first raceway and said second raceway are defined by respective first and second channels having respective first and second horizontal portions extending between respective opposed inner and outer vertical portions, and wherein said inner vertical portion of said first channel extends to said outer vertical portion of said second channel such that an upper surface of said second horizontal portion is positioned within an interior area of said shell, the first maneuver being one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave. 
 
     
     
       2. The watercraft of  claim 1 , wherein said first flange is formed by securing a bottom lip of said deck to a top lip of said hull. 
     
     
       3. The watercraft of  claim 2 , wherein said second flange is defined by said hull. 
     
     
       4. A watercraft comprising:
 a hull forming a bottom portion of a shell of the watercraft; 
 a deck forming a top portion of said shell; 
 a first flange extending along a first portion of a first side of said shell; 
 a second flange extending along at least one of said first portion and a second portion of said first side of said shell; and 
 an intermediate panel extending between said deck and said hull, said intermediate panel defining said first portion of said first side of said shell, 
 wherein at least a first segment of said first flange is vertically displaced from at least a first segment of said second flange, 
 wherein said first flange is formed by securing a bottom lip of said deck to an upper portion of said intermediate panel, 
 wherein said second flange is formed by securing a top lip of said hull to a lower portion of said intermediate panel, 
 wherein said intermediate panel defines an intermediate flange, a first segment of said intermediate flange being parallel with, and vertically displaced from, a first segment of at least one of said first and second flanges, and 
 wherein said first, second, and intermediate flanges define respective first, second, and intermediate raceways, each raceway having an open bottom for receiving water during a first maneuver, the first maneuver being one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave. 
 
     
     
       5. The watercraft of  claim 4 , wherein said first raceway and said intermediate raceway are defined by respective first and intermediate channels having respective first and intermediate horizontal portions extending between respective opposed inner and outer vertical portions, said inner vertical portion of said first channel extending to said outer vertical portion of said intermediate channel such that an upper surface of said intermediate horizontal portion is positioned within an interior area of said shell, the first maneuver being one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave. 
     
     
       6. The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein at least a first portion of said intermediate panel is more flexible than a corresponding portion of said deck and said hull such that said intermediate panel serves as a shock absorber for the watercraft. 
     
     
       7. A watercraft comprising:
 a hull forming a bottom portion of a shell of the watercraft; 
 a deck forming a top portion of said shell; 
 a first flange extending along a first portion of a first side of said shell; 
 a second flange extending along at least one of said first portion and a second portion of said first side of said shell; and 
 an intermediate panel extending between said deck and said hull, said intermediate panel defining said first portion of said first side of said shell, 
 wherein at least a first segment of said first flange is vertically displaced from at least a first segment of said second flange, 
 wherein said first flange is formed by securing a bottom lip of said deck to an upper portion of said intermediate panel, 
 wherein said second flange is formed by securing a top lip of said hull to a lower portion of said intermediate panel, and 
 wherein at least a first portion of said intermediate panel is more flexible than a corresponding portion of said deck and said hull such that said intermediate panel serves as a shock absorber for the watercraft. 
 
     
     
       8. A watercraft comprising:
 a hull forming a bottom portion of a shell of the watercraft; 
 a deck forming a top portion of said shell; 
 a first flange extending along a first portion of a first side of said shell; and 
 a second flange extending along at least one of said first portion and a second portion of said first side of said shell, 
 wherein at least a first segment of said first flange is vertically displaced from at least a first segment of said second flange, and 
 wherein said first portion of said first side of said shell is more flexible than adjacent portions of said shell such that said first portion of said shell serves as a shock absorber for the watercraft. 
 
     
     
       9. The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second flanges define respective first and second raceways, each raceway having an open bottom for receiving water during a first maneuver, wherein said first raceway and said second raceway are defined by respective first and second channels having respective first and second horizontal portions extending between respective opposed inner and outer vertical portions, and wherein said inner vertical portion of said first channel extends to said outer vertical portion of said second channel such that an upper surface of said second horizontal portion is positioned within an interior area of said shell, the first maneuver being one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave. 
     
     
       10. A watercraft of comprising a shell defining an interior area, the shell comprising:
 a hull forming a bottom portion of said shell; 
 a deck forming a top portion of said shell; 
 a first flange; and 
 a second flange, 
 wherein said shell defines a plurality of downward facing surfaces, each downward facing surface being configured to repel water during operation of the watercraft such that the water excerpts a first force upon the shell during a first maneuver, 
 wherein the shell is configured to reduce an opposed second force upon the shell during the first maneuver, 
 wherein the first maneuver is one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave, and 
 wherein said first and second flanges are associated with respective first and second downward facing surfaces, the first and second flanges being configured to direct water towards respective first and second downward facing surfaces. 
 
     
     
       11. The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein the watercraft is configured to direct water towards each downward facing surface upon a water level reaching respective downward facing surfaces during the first maneuver. 
     
     
       12. The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein water is directed away from at least a portion of an opposed upward facing surface during the first maneuver. 
     
     
       13. The watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said upward facing surface is positioned within said interior area of said shell. 
     
     
       14. The watercraft of  claim 13 , further comprising first and second channels defining respective first and second raceways, said first and second raceways comprising respective first and second horizontal portions extending between respective opposed inner and outer vertical portions, wherein opposed upper and lower surfaces of said first and second horizontal portions define at least part of respective first and second upward and downward facing surfaces, respectively, and wherein said inner vertical portion of said first channel extends to said outer vertical portion of said second channel such that said upper surface of said second horizontal portion is positioned within said interior area of said shell. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a watercraft, the method comprising performing a first maneuver,
 wherein performing the first maneuver causes a change in water level relative to the shell, 
 wherein the change in water level causes the water level to be higher than a downward facing surface and an opposed upward facing surface along at least a portion of the length of the watercraft, 
 wherein the watercraft is configured to direct water towards the downward facing surface during the first maneuver, thereby causing the water to excerpt a first force upon the shell, and 
 wherein the watercraft is configured to direct water away from at least a portion of the upward facing surface during the first maneuver, thereby preventing the water from excerpting an opposed second force upon the shell, 
 wherein the first maneuver is one of banking the watercraft during a turn and plowing the watercraft through a wave, and 
 wherein the shell comprises a horizontal portion extending between opposed inner and outer vertical portions, wherein opposed upper and lower surfaces of the second horizontal portion define at least part of respective upward and downward facing surfaces, and wherein the outer vertical portion extends vertically above the horizontal portion such that the upper surface of the horizontal portion is positioned within an interior area of the shell. 
 
     
     
       16. The watercraft of  claim 8 , wherein said first flange is formed by securing a bottom lip of said deck to a top lip of said hull. 
     
     
       17. The watercraft of  claim 16 , wherein said second flange is defined by said hull. 
     
     
       18. The watercraft of  claim 10 , wherein said first flange is formed by securing a bottom lip of said deck to a top lip of said hull. 
     
     
       19. The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein said second flange is defined by said hull.